Op-Ed: PLAs Really are Nothing More than Handouts
In an outstanding op-ed, Marci Miller of the Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors tells the truth about wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs): they are nothing more than special interest handouts that deprive taxpayers of the accountability they deserve on public contracts. Here is an excerpt from the Rochester Business Journal […]
Op-Ed: Labor Agreements Raise Construction Costs
In a guest op-ed published by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (“Labor Agreements Raise Construction Costs,” 8/28/10), Marci Miller of the Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors has some thoughts on the impact of wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs) on local construction projects. Here are the highlights: Despite some claims to […]
Project Labor Agreements and Big Labor Fail at Local Job Creation
Big Labor bosses and government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) advocates frequently claim that PLAs are the only way to guarantee local hire on construction projects funded by tax dollars. Of course, this is another myth promoted by special interests to convince lawmakers and taxpayers that there is a public benefit to anti-competitive and costly PLA […]
NYC PLA Proponents Busted by FBI for Racketeering and Other Crimes
Bosses from the New York District Council Carpenters Union are notorious for pushing project labor agreements (PLAs), using inflatable Rats and organizing disruptive pickets and boycotts against contractors and innocent customers in an effort to eliminate qualified nonunion contractors and their skilled merit shop workforce from eroding union market share in the greater NYC region. This week […]
Middletown, NY School Board Rejects Crony Contracts for Future Construction
The Middletown, NY School Board rejected a proposal to require contractors to sign a wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement (PLA) in order to work on the upcoming construction of a new elementary school. Here is the coverage from the July 2 edition of the Middletown Times Herald-Record (“School Board Vote Rejects Project Labor Agreement,” […]
If It Worked In Blazing Saddles, Why Not NYC?
The Wall Street Journal reported on a preposterous construction labor dispute illustrating Big Labor’s grip on the Big Apple (“Union Spat Clouds School Project,” 5/3/10). The New School is planning to build a $215 million classroom and dormitory building on the corner of 14th Street and Fifth Avenue, but the Painters Union DC 9 is […]
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas Says NO to PLA on Lake Champlain Bridge Project
The Obama Administration’s release of the final rule to implement Executive Order 13502 was not the only significant PLA development last week. Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas publicly stated his opposition to New York Gov. David Paterson Administration’s, and specifically the Department of Transportation’s (NYSDOT), request that a wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement (PLA) be required […]
AGC Letter to the Editor Calls for Fair and Open Competition on Lake Champlain Bridge
Another Albany Times Union letter to the editor (“Bid project for bridge both ways,” 3/15) refutes a March 6 letter to the editor that encourages the use of a controversial project labor agreement (PLA) on the Lake Champlain Crown Point Bridge (a PLA fight TheTruthAboutPLAs.com has covered here) by Robert J. Jones, business manager of the International […]
Contractor Says PLA Would Be Business Suicide
A March 12 Albany Times Union letter to the editor refutes a March 6 letter to the editor that encourages the use of a controversial project labor agreement (PLA) on the Lake Champlain Crown Point Bridge (a PLA fight TheTruthAboutPLAs.com has covered here) by Robert J. Jones, business manager of the International Union of Operating […]
Erie County Executive Chris Collins Rebukes County Legislators For Catering to Big Labor
In his March 11 State of the County Address, Erie County, NY Executive Chris Collins calls out county legislators for putting Big Labor’s interest ahead of job creation. Here’s an excerpt: Erie County also continues to come up with creative solutions to some of our local economic development problems caused by New York State. Because […]